Writing on his Facebook page afterwards, the 49-year-old said: “What a day! We’ve just filmed the red carpet entrance for Saturday’s Strictly launch. I have never been more out of my ‘comfort zone’ - good grief!

“Tomorrow we find out our professional dance partners - mine is going to need a lot of patience.”

Mr Balls is among 15 celebrities who will strut their stuff on the dance floor. Their professional partners have not yet been officially announced.

The father-of-three, who is married to Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford MP Yvette Cooper, has been documenting his progress on social media as he finds his rhythm.

He said on Facebook last week: “We’ve just finished day 2 of the group dance rehearsals plus some group tuition in the basic steps. Conclusion? Waltz and Charleston coming along but CHA CHA CHA a nightmare... time for a hot bath.”

The former politician, who admitted he was “scared to death” about learning to dance on TV, joked his competitors looked “rather younger and fitter”.

But writing on his blog when he was confirmed as a contestant last month he was optimistic he could “stick around for a couple of weeks and have a lot of fun in the process”.

The new series will kick off on BBC One at 6.50pm.

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